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Police hired plane for Rob Ford surveillance: Report

Toronto Star reports that police are monitoring the mayor himself

Toronto Mayor Rob Ford speaks to the media about the arrest of his occasional driver Sandro Lisi at a gas station near his Etobicoke home on Wednesday, October 2, 2013. (Matthew Sherwood for National Post)Photo: Matthew Sherwood for National Post

Although Toronto Police have remained mum on whether recent drug and gang investigations have involved the city’s mayor, Rob Ford, a new report from the Toronto Star reveals that cops have had a special eye in the sky.

Friday’s story is the first media report to say that police are monitoring Ford specifically. The Star reported back in August that police had been probing the activities of his associates but did not say Ford himself was under surveillance.

Curiously, the detail about the Cessna surveillance was buried on page A16 in Friday’s issue of the Star.

Scrutiny over Ford’s alleged ties to criminal activity have been intense since scandal erupted last May over a video that allegedly shows the mayor smoking from a crack pipe. Ford has refused to comment on a video that he’s “never seen or does not exist.”

After Lisi’s arrest, Ford held a press conference at a gas station near his home where he’s know to stop in for a coffee and copy of the Toronto Sun, and sounded like he was caught off guard by his friend’s charges.

“He’s a friend, he’s a good guy, I don’t throw my friends under the bus. He’s straight and narrow, never once seen the guy drink, never seen him once do drugs, so … I’m surprised, I’m actually shocked,” said Ford.

Lisi, 35, has been charged with traffic of marijuana, possession of proceeds of crime, possession of marijuana and conspiracy to commit an indictable offence.

Ford is currently in Austin, Texas promoting Toronto as a “music city” and has been dodging further media questions about Lisi, reports CBC News. When asked if he’s concerned that surveillance of Lisi could have picked up conversations with Ford, he shook his head.

One reporter asked whether Ford is worried surveillance of Lisi may have picked up his communications. Ford just shook his head.#topoli